A room at the Vet | Sports Daily Newsletter

Veterans Stadium was torn down in 2004, but some of the stories about the flawed but somehow lovable stadium are still standing.

Take the tale of the Phillies grounds crew’s room behind home plate. The cinder block room had the crew’s equipment, of course, along with some rundown furniture, but in the ’70s and ’80s, it became a lounge of sorts.

Luminaries ranging from Dick Allen to Bob Costas to Lou Brock to Willie Stargell to actor Kelsey Grammer and singer Lou Rawls came to hang out there, perhaps enjoying a beer or something fresh off a hot plate. That’s ambience. The truly important folks were allowed to sign a cinder block on a wall in the room, but not everyone had the honor of doing so.

“People saw them as celebrities and big-time athletes, but I got to know them in a different light,” says Mike DiMuzio, a member of that grounds crew. “That was really special to me.”

Matt Breen tells the story of the crew’s room, including what happened to the autographs on that wall.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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With a 3-2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes, the Flyers clinched a playoff spot for the first time in six years. They will face the Pittsburgh Penguins, their Keystone State rival in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Called up from the Phantoms, defenseman David Jiříček is getting a taste of life with the Flyers.

Before the series opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies placed reliever Jonathan Bowlan on the injured list and revealed that Adolis García would move into the cleanup spot.

Kyle Schwarber got to work, homering in his first two at-bats as the Phillies cruised to a 13-7 series-opening win over the Cubs. A five-run fifth inning helped break the game open.

The Sixers will open the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against the visiting Orlando Magic, and if you do not have Prime Video, you are out of luck as far as TV viewership goes. If the Sixers lose, they’ll have one more chance to advance in a game against the Hornets-Heat play-in winner.

Paul George does not want it to reach that point. “We’ve got a great opportunity to lock in a playoff seed here on our floor,” he said. “It don’t get no better than that in this situation. So we should look at it as ‘win or go home.’ We shouldn’t be looking at a Plan B or an Option B. …

“It’s the mentality we need to have now. Wednesday is too late. We need to have that mentality now.”

The Eagles have had a downright dominant offensive line, but Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, and Cam Jurgens have been showing wear and tear. So three of the team’s five linemen have long-term injury concerns or could be nearing retirement. It’s time to start considering backfills and this draft will give the Eagles an opportunity to restock. Seven offensive linemen are projected to be selected in the first round on April 23.

Jeff Neiburg and Devin Jackson take a look at six offensive line targets, three at tackle, three at interior line, who could make sense for the Eagles in the early rounds.

Philadelphia International Airport might be seeing quite a bit of Masters champion Rory McIlroy next month, because the next major will be the PGA Championship, from May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square.

McIlroy took three weeks off between the Players Championship and the Masters and dissed the Valspar, the Valero, and the Texas Children’s Houston Open — “I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event,” he told reporters — and, in the two weeks before the Masters, visited and played Augusta National three times. Could he do the same thing at Aronimink before the PGA? More from Marcus Hayes.

Who holds the Sixers record for most points in a playoff game with 55? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Wilt Chamberlain

B) Allen Iverson

C) Joel Embiid

D) Billy Cunningham

We asked: What concerns you about the Phillies and their 7-8 start? Among your responses:

Everything. Except for Crawford, nobody hits, though Harper’s beginning to come around. The relief pitching is what we thought it was, no bridge to Duran. The starting pitching awaits the return of Wheeler. The only consolation is that it’s April. There’s a long, hot summer ahead and plenty of time for the team to play up to their salaries. Can they? — Joel G.

Rob Thomson’s continued mishandling of his pitchers, especially the starters. — Dom R.

Very concerned about the Phillies both hitting and pitching, but mostly the hitting. Here’s a quick comparison with their hitting matched to the always #1 Dodgers. All MLB: Phillies runs 22nd, home runs 9, runs 26, RBIs 24, SB 15, OPS 15. Dodgers #1 in all those categories and #2 in runs. Dodgers #1 in attendance and Phillies #4, so they can certainly afford to have acquired a right-handed power hitter, but they did not. — Everett S.

Full season ticket holder here! We’re the ones who actually pay the money, sit in the seats to be tortured by one of the worst managers in all baseball. When you’re down by two runs. runners on second and third with two outs you don’t put a .065 hitter to the plate when you have at least 3 decent bats available. At least give yourself a chance to tie or win the game. He should have been gone two year’s ago! — Ronald R.

Why in the world is Crawford batting ninth? How about giving Sosa a chance to play since Bohm and Stott aren’t hitting? — Richard V.

The Phillies offense has not changed. They feast on poor pitching and cannot manufacture runs against good pitching — the type they encounter in the playoffs. Plate discipline has not improved, as evidenced with the recent 16-strikeout performance. I am fearful this season will be a struggle. — Bob C.

... Where is the drive to succeed? The players on this team are too good to be this bad. In my opinion they are exhibiting signs of a deeper problem than physical ability. Lack of hustle at times, numerous mental mistakes, steroid usage. All of these things point to a leadership issue. Not in the player’s clubhouse but in management. ... It’s easy to blame the players and say they are getting paid well they should be performing better but I believe it’s a management issue much deeper than the dugout or clubhouse. — Bob A.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Jackie Spiegel, Marcus Hayes, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Jeff Neiburg, Devin Jackson, Ryan Mack, Colin Schofield, and Mia Messina.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Here’s hoping you make the most of this warm weather. Thanks for reading. Bella will return to your inbox on Wednesday. — Jim